Movie News Wrap Up: Mar 4 2013

Dr. No might be getting a 3D Imax release; Mama director Andrés Muschietti signs on for a new project; Emma Watson is in talks for Cinderella; and director Tom Shadyac may helm The Intouchables remake.

According to Bleeding Cool, a 3D version of Dr. No, the first film in the 23-film series, is heading to theaters. The site also mentions an IMAX release might also be in the cards if a Moviefone listing is to be believed.

Although 3D re-releases were all the rage a few years ago, they seem to have dropped off quite substantially. After Star Wars Episode 1 underperformed in 3D, LucasFilm/Disney pulled the plug on future Star Wars re-releases. As well, Disney has seen their return on investment shrink with each subsequent animated 3D re-release, with Monsters Inc. 3D performing the worst by comparison.

That said, there might be a market for more mature fare, like James Bond. We’ll keep you posted if a Dr. No re-release is confirmed.

Hot off the heels of Mama, which has preformed very well in the box office, director Andrés Muschietti has signed on to direct an adaptation of the novel Bird Box for Universal.

Bird Box is the brainchild of The High Strung front man Josh Malerman, and is about a mother and two children struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic setting. Sources close to THR say the book is in the vein of Children of Men and The Others.

Like many of the adaptations we report on these days, Bird Box has not even hit bookstore shelves. The novel is said to release some time in 2014.

Variety reports the actress is in talks with the studio, but it is very early. Kenneth Branagh (Thor) has been brought on to direct the project, and Cate Blanchett has signed on to play the wicked stepmother.

Disney hopes to start production on Cinderella some time in 2014, which leaves plenty of time for them to close a deal with Emma Watson, or find a suitable replacement. Also on Disney’s slate for the near and far-flung future are Oz the Great and Powerful and the Sleeping Beauty spin-off, Maleficent.

Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura, Bruce Almighty) may be eyeing a return to film directing for the American remake of the French film The Intouchables.

It’s been nearly seven years since Shadyac has directed a film, but that apparently isn’t scaring The Weinstein Company away. Bridesmaids director Paul Feig was reportedly in talks for the gig, but that did not pan out. Now the ball is in Shadyac’s court.

The Intouchables is based on a true story, and follows a quadriplegic who hires a young man (played by future X-Men star Omar Sy) from the projects to be his caretaker. Despite the somewhat serious subject matter, the film is surprisingly touching and funny, which would make Shadyac a good fit for the project.

The Intouchables has earned an impressive $416 million overseas (along with $10 million here in the US), so it’s easy to see why The Weinstein Company bought the rights. TWC reportedly wants Colin Firth for the lead role.